Re: Carol from WI with lots of kids and lots of chores
Becky Wollenslegel
I think your solutions sound wonderful! I always admired my aunt's family
(8 kids on a farm) because it seemed like they all pitched in and did what
needed to be done and enjoyed doing it. That was a child's perspective, of
course, and they may have gotten along better with company around and it may
have been more structured than it appeared to my child's eyes.
My sister has 3 kids and she has charts and points and rewards and she has
to keep upping the points earned and the points neccessary to receive
things. (Did that make sense?) The usual rewards are Beanie Babies and
before long they either don't have a Beanie that they really want or they
just don't want to do the jobs - so they don't. This has escalted to the
point that they now get 500 pts a day if they keep their rooms "reasonably"
picked up - meaning if you can't see the mess from the doorway!
Of course you never know how life will turn out BUT - IMHO - your kids will
grow up to be well adjusted adults who know how to share space and
responsibilities. Of course one of them will probably be a hermit in a huge
house, seeking space and quiet and choosing not to recreate his/her crazy
childhood!
Unschooler or not, you all live there and you all have to pitch in or you
would never dig your way to the door! Hmm - or they could be digging their
way to the door to go visit Mom after she has a complete breakdown!
Keep up the good work and let us know when #7 arrives!
Becky in Ohio
(8 kids on a farm) because it seemed like they all pitched in and did what
needed to be done and enjoyed doing it. That was a child's perspective, of
course, and they may have gotten along better with company around and it may
have been more structured than it appeared to my child's eyes.
My sister has 3 kids and she has charts and points and rewards and she has
to keep upping the points earned and the points neccessary to receive
things. (Did that make sense?) The usual rewards are Beanie Babies and
before long they either don't have a Beanie that they really want or they
just don't want to do the jobs - so they don't. This has escalted to the
point that they now get 500 pts a day if they keep their rooms "reasonably"
picked up - meaning if you can't see the mess from the doorway!
Of course you never know how life will turn out BUT - IMHO - your kids will
grow up to be well adjusted adults who know how to share space and
responsibilities. Of course one of them will probably be a hermit in a huge
house, seeking space and quiet and choosing not to recreate his/her crazy
childhood!
Unschooler or not, you all live there and you all have to pitch in or you
would never dig your way to the door! Hmm - or they could be digging their
way to the door to go visit Mom after she has a complete breakdown!
Keep up the good work and let us know when #7 arrives!
Becky in Ohio
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Becky wrote:
<< Of course you never know how life will turn out BUT - IMHO - your kids will
grow up to be well adjusted adults who know how to share space and
responsibilities. Of course one of them will probably be a hermit in a huge
house, seeking space and quiet and choosing not to recreate his/her crazy
childhood!
this sort of life envisioned for herself!! Of course, I thought about myself
living like this too...once upon a time!
#7 is due in early December and I'll be sure to let everyone know!
Take care...
Carol from WI
<< Of course you never know how life will turn out BUT - IMHO - your kids will
grow up to be well adjusted adults who know how to share space and
responsibilities. Of course one of them will probably be a hermit in a huge
house, seeking space and quiet and choosing not to recreate his/her crazy
childhood!
>>Thanks, Becky for your nice comments. I already have one (my oldest) who has
this sort of life envisioned for herself!! Of course, I thought about myself
living like this too...once upon a time!
#7 is due in early December and I'll be sure to let everyone know!
Take care...
Carol from WI